downtown

After my mind-blowing, epic 416 days of travel around the globe, I still wake up each day, to the exact same question. So where am I? It’s surreal, exhilarating and momentarily befuddling; then my home bedroom wall comes into focus. Yes, OK, no packing today. I’m back in my hometown, beautiful Downtown St. Pete, Florida. Unsurprisingly, I haven’t found any edges to our globe yet, even after adding all these stops to my globetrotting list…

Hello to my fellow Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Dreamers, Start-Ups and Positive Folks, it’s Michael Scott Novilla, the founder of the Entrepreneur Social Club [tm], returning home from an epic 416-day world tour. Our resident Tech Guru Chris Jenkins managed and hosted the St. Pete, Florida chapter of the ESC while I was away, he is most deserving of and certainly get’s my deepest appreciation and gratitude. THANK YOU CHRIS!!

Happy EntrepreNEWerial New Year from the Entrepreneur Social Club! We’ve Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Dreamers, Start-Ups and Positive Folks gathered here at historic DTSP venue NOVA 535, on a beautiful Thursday January 4, 2018. For our weekly evening of networking, schmoozing, business development, mentoring, laughter, business card reviewinf and so much more! It’s typically the highlight of the week for many of us, for the camaraderie, the imparted wisdom, the hugs, smiles and laughter; plus if you hang around long enough, you may be an #afterparty #falloutvictum. More, or not, about that later…

As each year comes to an end, our Friends and Family gather for Nova Noel. Meeting up a final time at our HQ, the historic DTSP venue NOVA 535, for our Nova Noel, wild annual holiday party. December 28, 2017 brought us our 10th Nova Noel, each one filled with special memories and unique moments that can only be concocted by the combo of Entrepreneurs, small business owners, Santa time and plenty of alcohol. Nova Noel 10 certainly didn’t disappoint. Laughs, zaniness, gorgeous ladies swinging from the rafters and Santa strutting his stuff, all while we enjoyed the delicious beats of DJ MEGA and the tasty, healthy food from Chef Ray Milton. Luckily I hired photographer Ann Coffman to capture all of our madness, so I could spend more time zipping around spreading our unique ESC holiday cheer!

A Happier Healthier Entrepreneur Social Club is Subcentral at Iberian Rooster Downtown St. Pete.

Hello Thursday December 21, 2017! Here we are at Subcentral, the cool (literally) underground entertainment section of the Iberian Rooster, located at 475 Central Avenue, Downtown St. Pete. Our HQ, the historic venue NOVA 535, is closed for a private wedding and reception, so we’ve ventured further into DTSP to set-up shop for the evening. I never know who will show up for these off-site (not at NOVA 535) Entrepreneur Social Club ™ meetings. Roger Curlin, the super starter Mr. Johnny Hussle himself is the first to arrive, and is immediately asking how he can be helpful. Great guy! So we rearrange some high top tables and chairs, get my laptop all powered up, find a secure WiFi channel and begin prepping for tonight’s ESC meeting. Let’s see who showed up and what they had to say….

Mutant ESCape. Huh? It’s another gorgeous Thursday evening, December 14th, the year 2017 almost at its finale. We weary and overworked small business owners and Entrepreneurs, gather here, once again at our HQ, the historic DTSP wedding venue and event space NOVA 535. This is our ritual, the night we recharge, blow of steam, vent, laugh, cry and share our tales of success and failures. Gathering again for our weekly ESC meeting of biz dev (business development for those not in the know) networking and schmoozing. ESC is quick speak for Entrepreneur Social Club ™. ESC can also be short code for ESCape. Analog or Digital ESCape. Like that necessary evil of a button on the top left of your keyboard. The one we pound on often to stop an impending mistake, or to return us back to where we started.

Tonight is Thursday, November 9, 2017, and we gather at one of our favorite DTSP locations, the Queens Head DTSP. Our Entrepreneur Social Club HQ, historic venue NOVA 535, is booked for a private dinner party. I’m at NOVA 535, getting things up and running, then my 5-Star brother Chris Novilla takes over, so I can join my fellow visionaries, founders, start-ups, dreamers, business owners and Entrepreneurs at our fav Euro bar and restaurant, The Queens Head. I arrived a bit late, and some of our visionaries were in route to becoming double-visionaries.

Tonight is Thursday, November 9, 2017, and we gather at our Entrepreneur Social Club headquarters, the DTSP historic venue, NOVA 535. We all get sidetracked, in business, in love, and especially after some drinks while we’re being silly. Speaking for my fellow Entrepreneurs, we are ALL overworked, mostly underpaid and certainly ALL need to lower our stress levels. Healthier is Happier, that’s Better, correct? Tonight we discussed how we can, and should be, healthier. And laughter is always on the prescribed medications list. We have so many laughs and good times during our meetings, and especially afterwards at dinner. Even more so during our !!AfterParty!! …though rarely are there any digital documentation and evidence of our !!AfterParties!! Club rules and all that. Just ask Jzon.

I’m reminded each Thursday night during my Entrepreneur Social Club ™, of how much of a family of friends we’ve become. There are always new faces each week, of every shape, size, from every industry and ancestry. Those smart/wise enough to hang around eventually become family. Our Family. Of Entrepreneurs. Small Business owners, visionaries, “misfits”; those who are the round hole to a world of square pegs. And square we most certainly are not. Shown here is just one wonderful chunk of our family, Tony Michaelides with Chris Jenkins, Bill Cason and Kym Jenkins. Oh the laughs and moments we’ve shared over the years. So many magical moments, all because of ESC. (more…)

It’s Thursday again… tonight, a beautiful October 19, 2017, just 24 hours before my annual Halloween Costume Party, Novaween He11even, begins. Last night my brother Chris, friend and co worker Melissa and I went to Universal Studios Orlando, for Halloween Horror Nights, what a blast. And what a late night; way too much party time! Wow, so much fun! So tonight I’m going to end the meeting early and head to Gratzzi Italian Restaurant about 815 pm, instead of closer to 9:00 pm. A delicious dinner, some laughs and interesting conversations, then a good night’s sleep in preparation for the Madness of Novaween He11even!.